Machine for crimping metal



April 6, 1937;

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING METAL Filed Aug. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl 2 (L 14 9 Fig , INVENTOR BY v M ATTORNEY.

April 6, 193 7.

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April 6, 1937.

J. E. DRESSING 7 2,076,228

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING METAL Filed Aug. 15, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 25 z e a 7 2a 29 30 42 f .6 5.6 73 M17 L a? l I 1/ J l ATTO Y.

April 6, 1937. J. E. DRESSING 2,076,228.

I MACHINE FOR .CRIMPINGMETAL Filed Aug. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ENTOR;

AT TORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE John E. Dressing, St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 15, 1935, Serial No. 36,355

2 Claims.

The object of this invention is to reduce the number of operations necessary in forming in sheet metal (galvanized iron) what is known as a Pittsburgh joint, thereby effecting obvious economies in time, labor, etc.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 shows a piece of sheet metal crimped in such a manner as to form the female member of such a joint.

Figure 2 shows a duct structure, with two male members fitting into corresponding female members at corners diagonally opposite to each other.

Figure 3 illustrates a duct structure of a larger size, in which it is necessary to provide such a joint at each of the four corners.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing the roller or manipulating side of the machine for forming the said female members.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the opposite side of the machine, depicting the gears and other driving mechanism.

Figure 6 is a top plan view.

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the driving end.-

Figure 8 is a detail of the adjustable mounting of the rollers.

Figure 9 illustrates one of the advanced operations of crimping.

Figure 10 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of the individual roller-operating means.

Figures 11 to 19 (both numbers inclusive) show the successive modifications in the shape of the metal from the initial introduction of the plain blank or sheet of metal between the first rollers appearing at the lefthand end of Figures 4 and 6 and its configuration when it emerges at the other end of the machine.

The male member I fits snugly within the female member 2, with proper dimensions or proportions of parts to prevent side movement, thus forming a loose, but reinforced, semi-rigid joint. In relatively small ducts, like Figure 2, such a joint at two corners of a rectangular structure produce sufficient rigidity; but for that purpose, in structures of larger size, a joint of that kind at each corner is necessary, as shown in Figure 3, in order to impart sufficient permanency to the construction. A final bend 19, shown in Figures 2 and 3, forming an extension of female member 2 and adapted to lie against the side of the portion of the structure carrying male member I, serves to add strength and rigidity to the entire structure.

The standards 3, 4, 5, 6, rest upon the floor and support the body 1 of the machine. For additional solidity of the said main frame of the machine, the said standards are tied together by the tray 8, having the fianges 9, constituting the whole a solid, strong, and weighty base.

Power is derived from any suitable source, but preferably motor I0 drives shaft II, journaled in block I2. A spur pinion I3 is fixed to the outer end of shaft I I, and drives idler spur gear I4, which drives spur gear I5 and thereby shaft I6. A plurality of beveled pinions I1, fixed to shaft I6, engage a plurality of beveled gears I8, fixed to shafts I9. A plurality of gears 20, immediately back of gears l8, are fixed to the shafts l9, and engage a plurality of gears 2|, fixed to the shafts 22. The rollers 23-39 inclusive are fixedly mounted on the opposite ends of the shafts 22.

The shafts 22 are journaled in blocks 3|, which are cushioned on springs 32, and adapted to be pressed more or less strongly thereagainst by set screws 33. This makes the blocks 3| vertically adjustable and, also, the rollers 23-30, which are carried thereby. This adjustability is desirable for various obvious reasons, including the difference in thickness of the metal to be crimped by this machine. The rollers 23, 24, 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, and 36 are adapted to rotate from left to right as the operator forces the abovementioned rollers when this machine is in operation.

On a table 34 at the front of the machine, is a groove 35, and placed immediately above the groove 35, a small beveled roller 36 is attached to a bracket 31. The bracket 31 is rigidly attached to the body I. A beveled part 38 protruding from near the center of the face of the roller 23, as shown in Figure 6, fits into a female roller 39. A beveled part 40 near the center of the face of the roller 24, as shown in Figure 6, fits into a female roller 4|. A beveled part 42 near the center of the face of the roller 25, as shown in Figure 6, fits into a female roller 43. A beveled part 44 near the center of the face of the roller 26, as shown in Figure 6, fits into a female roller 45, and a disk-shaped protrusion 46, near the center of the face of the roller 21, as shown in Figure 6, fits into a female roller 41. Immediately under the roller 28 is a roller 48 having a triangular-shaped groove 49. Under the roller 29 is a roller 50 having a shallow, quadrangular-shaped groove 5|, and under the roller 30 is a roller 52 having a deeper, quadrangularshaped groove 53. The rollers 28, 29, and 30 are plain and smooth. The rollers 23, 24, 25, 26, 2?, 28, 29, and 30 are adapted to be so adjusted by the set screws 33, so that a sheet of metal to be crimped will fit snugly between the sets of rollers 23-39, 24-4I, 25-43, 26-45, 21-41, 28-48, 29-50, and 38-52.

In one of the advanced stages of crimping, as shown in Figures 9 and 16, the sheet metal passes over a table 54 attached by bolts 55 to the body I. The partially crimped sheet metal passes between the shaper 56 having a substantially ver-' tical edge 51, and the somewhat thinner shaper 58, having an acute angular edge 59, thereby imparting to the sheet metal the shape as shown in Figures 9 and 16. Screws 60 and 6|, secure the shapers 56 and 58 to the table 54. A roller 62, with a flange 63, is secured immediately above the shapers 56 and 58, to the body I by a screw 54. The roller 62, is adapted to hold the sheet metal against the top parts 65 and 66, of the shapers 56 and 58, while the crimping process is proceeding.

In the crimping process, a sheet of metal is placed upon the table 34, and is forced by hand pressure under the small beveled roller 36. The

sheet metal is then caught between the rollers 23 p and 39, and the clockwise rotation of the roller 23, draws the sheet metal to the next set of rollers 24 and 4|, and thereafter the sheet metal is drawn between the various sets of rollers and shapers, and comes to rest upon the table 6'! at the opposite end of the machine.

A rest 68, connecting with the table 34 at the one end, and with the table 6'! at the other end, supports the sheet metal while it is being drawn between the various rollers and shapers.

A plate 69 with slots 10, is attached to the table 34 by bolts H, and another plate 12 with slots 13, is attached to the table 67 by bolts M. The bolts H and M are placed through the slots 75 and 13, and then through holes in the tables 34 and 61, making the plates 69 and 72 horizontally adjustable. This adjustability is desirable for various obvious reasons, including spacing the edge of the sheet metal the desired distance from the crimping devices on the rollers and shapers.

A strip of metal of other suitable material 15, secured by bolts 16 to one side of the top of the body I, and another strip Tl secured by bolts 18 to the other side of the top of the body I, secures all of the blocks 3| Within the body 1 without destroying the adjustability afforded by the springs 32 and the set screws 33.

Many minor changes in this article may be adopted in the construction, form, order, or arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein-described means for shaping sheet metal, consisting of means for slightly creasing the sheet metal, the said means having a groove and a beveled roller placed immediately above the said groove, shaping means operating under power, consisting of a male and female shaper adapted to impart to the sheet metal a shallow V-shaped groove, shaping means also under power, consisting of a male and female shaper adapted to impart a deeper V-shaped groove, shaping means also under power, consisting of a male and female shaper adapted to impart a still deeper V-shaped groove, shaping means also under power, consisting of a male and female shaper adapted to impart a still deeper V-shaped groove, shaping means also under power, consisting of a male and female shaper adapted to impart a substantially U-shaped groove, a set of shapers consisting of two rollers with vertically mounted axis, and a flanged roller with its axis horizontally mounted, the said set of shapers and roller adapted to impart a substantially loopshape to the U-shaped groove, two shaping members also operating under power, comprising a grooved member and a member adapted to force the sheet metal into the said groove thereby imparting to the sheet metal a form of a substantially U-shape on an inclined plane, and continuing to form a partially inverted V-shape, two shaping members also operatingunder power, comprising a grooved member and a member adapted to force the sheet metal into the said groove, thereby imparting to the sheet metal a form comprising a horizontal member, continuing to form an inclined member, continuing to form a close-lipped, U-shaped member, thence continuing to form a wide-lipped, U-shaped member, two shaping members also operating under power, comprising a grooved member, and a member adapted 'to' force the sheet metal into the said groove, thereby imparting to the sheet metal the finished form, and suitable means of power to operate the above-mentioned shapers.

2. A machine for the shaping of sheet metal, particularly in making what is known as a Pittsburgh joint, consisting of a body and a supporting member, a member for supporting the sheet metal, means for slightly creasing the sheet metal, including a groove in the above-mentioned member for supporting the sheet metal and a beveled roller placed immediately above the said groove, a male and female shaper adapted to impart to the sheet metal a shallow V-shaped groove, a

male and female shaper adapted to impart a n deeper V-shaped groove, a male and female shaper adapted to impart a still deeper V-shaped groove, a male and female shaper adapted to impart a still deeper V-shaped groove, a male and female shaper adapted to impart a substantially U-shaped groove, a set of shapers consisting of two rollers with vertically mounted axis and a flanged roller with its axis horizontally mounted, the said set of shapers and roller adapted to impart a substantially loop-shape to the U-shaped groove, two shaping members comprising a grooved member and a member adapted to force the sheet metal into the said groove, thereby imparting to the sheet metal a form of a substantially U-shape on an inclined plane and continuing to form a partially inverted V-shape, two shaping members comprising a grooved member and a member adapted to force the sheet metal into the said groove, thereby imparting to the sheet metal a form comprising a horizontal member, continuing to form an inclined member, continuing to form a close-lipped, U-shaped member, thence continuing to form a wide-lipped, U-shaped member, two shaping members comprising a grooved member and a member adapted to force the sheet metal into the said groove, thereby imparting to the sheet metal the finished form, means of transmitting power to the abovementioned shapers, the same including a multiplicity of shafts, a multiplicity of gears mounted upon the said shafts, a second multiplicity of shafts, a second multiplicity ofgears mounted upon the last mentioned shafts and engaging the first multiplicity of gears, a third multiplicity of gears also mounted upon the last mentioned shafts, a fourth multiplicity of gears mounted upon a single shaft and engaging the third multiplicity ofgears, a'spur gear mounted upon the last mentioned shaft, an idler spur gear engaging the said spur gear, a spur pinion gear engaging the said idler spur gear, and suitable means of power applied to the said spur pinion gear.

JOHN E. DRESSING. 

